AIDS 2010

Societies Tackling AIDS through Rights

STAR

Presented by Christy AbrahamInternational Theme Manager

HIV & AIDSActionAid International

AIDS 2010 STARA participatory approach to

empowering individuals and communities

in the face of HIV & AIDSDeveloped by ActionAid

Evolved from the Rights based Framework to HIV and AIDS

AIDS 2010STAR Principles

People Centered: Empowering people to communicate, advocate and responded to by those in power

Mutual Respect: Respecting peoples knowledge, experiences, perspective and skills

Human Rights: Rights are universal and indivisible for ALL irrespective of their conditions and it has to be protected by the Duty holders

AIDS 2010STAR Principles

Participation: Ensure equal space for individual and collective participation

Social Mobilisation: From personal level to mobilising actions at local, national and International levels

Holistic Response: HIV & AIDS requires an integrated, long term multi sectoral response

AIDS 2010

Com

mun

ication

Parti

cipa

tion

MobilizationFor ActionPower Analysis

Learning

& Literacy

Comm

unity

Family

Gover

nmen

t

HIV/AIDS GENDER

HUMANRIGHTS

reflection

dialogue

learningaction

faci

litati

on

STAR ApproachTri-Focal Lens

AIDS 2010How star works

STAR CIRCLESPeer Group Approach25-30

Youth

25-30

Men

25-30

Women

25-30

Vulnerable groups

AIDS 2010

Reflect, Organise, Mobilise, Take Action and Claim Rights

25-30

Youth

25-30

Men

25-30

Women

25-30

Vulnerable groups

Legal Governance

Media State

Academia

Civil Society

Traditional leaders

AIDS 2010

25-30

Youth

25-30

Men

25-30

Women

25-30

Vulnerable groups

Legal Governance

Media State

Academia

Civil Societies

Traditional leaders

Campaign & Advocacy actions to claim rights

Enjoying Rights Universal access to HIV

prevention, treatment, care & support

Com

mun

ication

Parti

cipa

tion

MobilizationFor Action

Power AnalysisLearning

& Literacy

Comm

unity

Family

Gover

nmen

t

HIV/AIDS GENDER

HUMANRIGHTS

reflection

dialogue

learningaction

faci

litati

on

STAR Process

AIDS 2010 STAR IN ACTONAID COUNTRY PROGRAMMES

• STAR was implemented in 19 Country Programmes of AA with support from European Commission and Africa Pamoja Network during 2005-2008.

• A qualitative study was done in early 2010 to review the Impact of STAR in communities.

• 12 countries were found to have significant impact through the STAR processes

• Am sharing with you some such successes

AIDS 2010 Implementation of STAR in Actionaid country programmes

ASIA

India Bangladesh

Cambodia Pakistan

AIDS 2010

• India:

• STAR Circles - 1547 • Direct Members - 92820• Integrated into the NACO-UNDP

supported Link Worker Scheme Project.

• Focus-Strengthening Health Systems

AIDS 2010

AIDS 2010

• Bangladesh:

• Changing power structures at community

• Capacity of women and adolescent girls built for Livelihood

• 6 facilitators and 2 PLHIV volunteers received the UNAIDS community volunteer Awards for 2009.

 

UN community volunteer Awardees

Bangladesh

AIDS 2010

Pakistan:

• 18 STAR circles with 400 members. • Focus on PLHIV, transgender, home

based Female sex workers • Issues - Lack of testing centres, Anti

retrovirals and SRH services and stigma• Impact - First TG organisation was

registered in Pakistan in 2009

 

AIDS 2010

Cambodia : • Issue: Strengthening community

Education on HIV• 5000 people reached through

community education on HIV and AIDS, women’s health and treatment literacy using participatory (STAR) approach.

AIDS 2010 Implementation of STAR in Actionaid country programmes

AFRICA

EthiopiaMalawi

Nigeria

Tanzania

GambiaSierra Leone

Zimbabwe

Uganda

AIDS 2010

The Gambia: • Awareness created on civic education and

rights.

• Women are increasingly demanding their rights to socio economic development.

• The women of Wuli harnessed milling machines, ten hectares of land, a groundnut marketing scheme and space for a day care centre.

Africa

AIDS 2010

Uganda:

• Donor influencing agenda.

• Implemented in 6 districts and 6 CBOs.

• Modelled MIPA

• Reduction in Stigma and Discrimination.

Uganda

AIDS 2010

Zimbabwe: Issue: Silence Around HIV and no demand for Services“They taught us about the importance of undergoing VCT; being on ART; how to manage one’s diet when one is HIV positive; To date four couples in Tazvinzwa and Chigudu villages have revealed their status which is encouraging..It has influenced the coming of an Opportunistic Infections clinic at Weya hospital where the number of people attending is increasing every month.”Says -Mrs. Nyakaswa (47).

AIDS 2010

Nigeria

• Issue lack of potable water. • Mobilised the community members to take

action by digging wells with a target of one (1) well for 15 households.

Malawi:

• Issue - Orphans and vulnerable children. • 27 child care centers established in 40

villages.

AIDS 2010

Ethiopia:

• Change in attitudes towards HIV testing and Treatment.

• “We all agreed to be going for VCT every 3 months because real change must start with us before we can change our families and our community” said Kebedu Tiumay, one of the group facilitators

• STAR is empowering its members economically through ventures in savings and credit, and farming support .

Ethiopia

AIDS 2010

Tanzania: • Issue - Money Not Reaching Down- amendment of

the Tanzania HIV and AIDS prevention Act 2008. • 6 membership organizations of PLHIV and 1,200

STAR circles.

Sierra Leone: • Issue: Violence Against women and Girls • Improving livelihood options for women. • Men playing a Key role in changing situations• Formation of “Voices of Sierra Leone”

AIDS 2010STAR Impact

• STAR is mobilizing communities to be responsible, take action, demand for rights and stakeholders are responding

• Can go to scale, applicable in different contexts with ALL communities, process led with outcome orientation

• STAR is a Social Change communication process leading to changes in Power dynamics at social and political levels

AIDS 2010

Thankyou